Swing attachment

ABSTRACT

An attachment for attaching the upper end of a swing device to a raised top bar. The attachment includes a pair of arcuate slide sections having opposite ends in mating engagement to form a circular slide, a U-bolt having a pair of parallel threaded end segments connected by a curved bridging portion slidably engaged in the slide, a generally V-shaped saddle bracket whose arms have first ends connected by a saddle, spaced-apart second ends containing through holes for receiving the end segments of the U-bolt and a pair of opposing sliders projecting from the bracket arms for slidably engaging in the slide, and at least one nut for threadedly engaging an end segment of the U-bolt. The attachment enables a chain or other swing suspension device that is secured to the bracket to pivot 360° around the top bar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a children's swing set. It relatesespecially to a device for pivotally attaching a swing or similar deviceto the top bar of a swing set.

[0002] Children's swings, glide rides and the like usually include somekind of a seating platform suspended by suspension means such as chains,cables, tubes or the like from a top bar or other raised horizontalsupport. The suspension means are invariably connected to the top bar orother raised support by pivots. In one known example, a pair of eyebolts are mounted at spaced-apart locations along the top bar and theuppermost links of a pair of chains supporting the swing seat areconnected to the eye bolts by S-hooks. When the swing seat swings backand forth, the S-hooks pivot relative to the eye bolts. That type ofconnection is disadvantaged in that it does not allow the chains orother suspension means to pivot completely over the top bar.

[0003] There do exist bearing assemblies for swing sets which do allow achain or other suspension means to pivot completely over the top bar;see e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,531,077 and 6,123,480. However those bearingassemblies are relatively complicated devices consisting of severalseparate parts which must be assembled using a multiplicity of smallfasteners. Considering the fact that most present day swing sets aresold in a knock-down condition for assembly by the ultimate purchaser,it is not surprising that those small parts are often misplaced or lostentirely. At the very least, the required installation of all thoseparts prolongs the time its takes to assemble the swing set.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide a swingattachment in the form of a bearing assembly for pivotally attaching aswing-type ride to a top bar or other raised horizontal support.

[0005] A further object of the invention is to provide a swingattachment of this type which is relatively easy and inexpensive tomanufacture.

[0006] Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a swingattachment which is composed of a minimum number of parts that can beassembled easily without requiring any special tools.

[0007] A further object of the invention is to provide a swingattachment of this type which allows the chain or other seat suspensionmeans to pivot completely around the top bar or other overheadhorizontal support.

[0008] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a swingattachment which requires only two fastening elements in order topivotally connect the upper end of a chain or other suspension means tothe top bar of a swing set.

[0009] Other objects will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, appearhereinafter.

[0010] The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the following detailed description, and the scope of theinvention will be indicated in the claims.

[0011] Briefly, our attachment attaches the upper end of a swing deviceto a raised top bar or other overhead horizontal support. The attachmentcomprises a pair of similar arcuate slide sections, each track sectionhaving first and second ends and opposite inner and outer wallsextending between those ends. The slide sections are shaped anddimensioned so that when the slide sections are juxtaposed with theircorresponding ends in butting engagement, the inner walls of the slidesections define an opening corresponding the cross-section of the topbar. There are semi-circular grooves in the outer walls of the slidesections which when the slide sections are juxtaposed and butted definea substantially continuous circular slide or track.

[0012] The attachment also includes a fastening means for clamping theslide sections to the top bar, yet which are slidable along the slide sothat the fastening means (And a chain or other suspension deviceattached thereto) can execute a 360° rotation about the top bar.Typically, the fastening means may include a U-bolt having a pair ofsubstantially parallel legs connected by a bridging portion having acurvature corresponding to the curvature of the slide and a bracketincluding a pair of arms having corresponding first ends connected by asaddle portion and corresponding spaced-apart co-planar second ends.Through holes are formed in those ends which are so spaced-apart andsized as to receive the end segments of the U-bolt. A pair of opposingsliders may project from the bracket arms near the second ends thereof,each slider being slidably received in the slide when the bracket isengaged against the slide sections and the end segments of the U-boltextend through said holes. Means are provided at the ends of the U-boltlegs projecting through the bracket so as to clamp the slide sectionsbetween the U-bolt and the bracket.

[0013] When the upper end of a chain or other swing suspension device isengaged on the bracket, the attachment allows that end to pivot a full360° about the axis of the top bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of theinvention, reference should be made to the following detaileddescription taken in connection with the accompanied drawings, in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a children's swing setincorporating swing attachments according to the invention;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view on a much larger scaleshowing one of the swing attachments in FIG. 1, and

[0017]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the components ofthe FIG. 2 attachment in their disassembled condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Refer now to FIG. 1 of the drawings which shows a children'sswing set including a top bar B supported at opposite ends byconventional A-frames A. Suspended from top bar B is a pair of swingsshown generally at S. Each swing includes a seating platform P suspendedfrom top bar B by chains C whose uppermost links C_(L) are pivotallyconnected to top bar B by attachments shown generally at 10. The seatingplatform P could, of course, be suspended from top bar B or otheroverhead support by other suspension means such as flexible cables,rigid rods or tubes and the like.

[0019] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, each attachment 10 includes a setof upper and lower arcuate slide sections 12 a and 12 b made of asuitable rigid, weather-resistant, low friction plastic material, e.g.nylon or high molecular weight polyethylene. The illustrated slidesections are semi-circular with an inner diameter that corresponds tothat of the tubular top bar B. Each slide section has a peripheralgroove or slide 14 and a radially inwardly extending post 16 more orless midway along its length. Also, an integral key 22 a and an adjacentkeyhole 24 a are present at one end of each slide section 12 a, 12 b anda similar key 22 b and keyhole 24 b are present at the other end of eachsection 12 a, 12 b. Resultantly, when the two slide sections arejuxtaposed opposite one another as shown in FIG. 3, at opposing firstends of the two sections, the keys 22 a are disposed opposite thekeyholes 24 a, while at the opposing second ends of the two sections,the key 22 b are disposed opposite the keyholes 24 b.

[0020] In use, the two slide sections 12 a, 12 b are adapted to beclamped to opposite sides of the top bar B with the posts 16 projectinginto a pair of diametrically opposite holes 26, 26 formed in the topbar. When the two sections are properly seated against the top bar asshown in FIG. 2, the keys 22 a, 22 b at the ends of the two sectionsproject into the corresponding keyholes 24 a, 24 b therein and the posts16 project through holes 26, 26 into the top bar. Thus, the two sections12 a, 12 b are fixed relative to one another and are fixed relative totop bar B, with the slides 14 of the two track sections forming asubstanttially continuous circular groove or track that extendscompletely around the longitudinal axis of the top bar.

[0021] The third major component of attachment 10 is a fastener element,namely a double-ended U-bolt 32, e.g., formed of {fraction (3/16)} inchsteel wire, whose curvature corresponds to that of slides 14,14 so thatthe bolt can be slidably seated in the slides 14,14 of the assembledslide sections 12 a, 12 b as shown in FIG. 2. One end segment 32 a ofthe U-bolt is bent out at a right angle; the other end segment 32 b isthreaded. When the U-bolt 32 is installed on the top bar, the endsegments 32 a and 32 b are on opposite sides of the top bar B.

[0022] The fourth major component of attachment 10 is a saddle bracket34 formed from a relatively rigid metal strap. The illustrated bracket34 has a pair of legs 34 a, 34 a which converge to a lower curved wallor saddle portion 34 b so as to form a V-shape. The legs 34 a, 34 a havespaced-apart upper end segments 34 c and 34 d, respectively, which areturned away from one another. Segment 34 c has a through hole 35 and araised channel 36 extending out from hole 35 perpendicular to leg 34 aso that the end segment 32 a of U-bolt 32 can be inserted through hole35 and hooked under the bracket segment 34 c so it engages in channel 36as shown in FIG. 2. The other bracket end segment 34 d has a hole 37 toreceive the threaded end segment 32 b of bolt 32.

[0023] In addition, a pair of opposing rounded bosses constitutingprojecting sliders 38 are present near the upper ends of bracket legs 34a, 34 a just below segments 34 c and 34 d thereof. Each slider 38extends more or less perpendicular to the associated leg 34 a so thatwhen bracket 34 is engaged against the underside of a slide section 12a, 12 b as shown in FIG. 2, the sliders 38 will extend into the slide 14of that section, while at the same is time, the bracket end segments 34c and 34 d will be more or less horizontal so that the ends of bolt 32can extend down through the holes 35 and 37 in the end bracket segments34 c and 34 d, respectively.

[0024] Prior to engaging the bracket to the bolt, however, the uppermostlink C_(L) of chain C is secured to bracket 34 by threading one end ofthe bracket 34 through the eye of the link C_(L) so that that link seatson the bracket lower wall or saddle portion 34 b. Then, after thethreaded end segment 32 b of the bolt 32 is inserted through the hole 37in the bracket; it may be retained there by a fastening element in theform of a nut 42 threaded onto the bolt segment 32 b extending underbracket end segment 34 d. Preferably, the nut 42 is of the friction typeso that once tightened onto the end of the bolt, it will remain in placeunless removed intentionally by a wrench or similar tool.

[0025] When the components of the attachment are assembled as shown inFIG. 2, the bolt 32 and bracket 34 are free to rotate as a unit in thecircular track defined by slides 14,14 a full 360° relative to thecommon axis of slide sections 12 a, 12 b and top bar B. Thus, the upperend of chain C can pivot completely around the top bar while being fixedto the top bar in the axial direction.

[0026] It is the feature of the invention that when the four majorcomponents of the attachment are secured using the single nut 42, slidesections 12 a, 12 b are fixed to the top bar B both rotationally andaxially, the bolt 32/bracket 34 combination is axially fixed butrotatable relative to the slide sections and the upper link C_(L) of thechain C is fixed to the bracket, thereby providing a bearing attachmentthat allows the chain C to pivot completely over the top bar B. Yet,attachment 10 comprises a minimum number of parts which are easilyassembled to the top bar of a swing set using only one nut, therebyminimizing the likelihood of fastener loss that would prevent convenientassembly of the attachment by a purchaser to the top bar of thepurchaser's swing set.

[0027] Since the slide sections are molded plastic parts which can bemade in quantity relatively inexpensively and bolt 32 is a formed wireand bracket 34 is a formed metal part, and nut 42 is a conventionaloff-the-shelf item, the entire assembly can be made at minimum cost.Therefore, it should find wide acceptance in the marketplace.

[0028] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above among thosemade apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained.Also, certain changes may be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. Thus, slide sections 12 a and12 b may have other shapes depending upon the cross-sectional shape oftop bar B. For example if the top bar B has a square cross-section, theinner walls of the arcuate sections 12 a, 12 b should complete a square.The only requirement is that the outer grooves 14, 14 of the two slidesections complete a circle so that the connected-together bolt 32 andbracket 34 can pivot completely over or around the sections and top barB. Also, of course, in lieu of U-bolt 32 and saddle bracket 34, otherfastening means may be used to rotatably secure the chain link C_(L) tothe slide sections 12 a, 12 b. The only requirement in that respect isthe fastening means in toto must be able to slide along the slides 14 inthe slide sections 12 a, 12 b. Therefore, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:
 1. An attachment for attaching the upper end of a swing deviceto a raised top bar, said attachment comprising a pair of similararcuate slide sections, each slide section having first and second ends;opposite inner and outer walls extending between said ends, said wallsbeing shaped and dimensioned so that when the slide sections arejuxtaposed with their corresponding ends in butting engagement, theinner walls of the slide sections define an opening corresponding thecross-section of the top bar, and a peripheral semi-circular groove inthe outer wall of each slide section which when the slide sections arejuxtaposed and butted define a substantially continuous circular slidehaving an axis, and fastening means for clamping said slide sections tothe top bar, said fastening being slidable along said circular slide atleast 360° about said axis.
 2. The attachment defined in claim 1 whereinthe fastening means comprise a U-bolt having a pair of substantiallyparallel legs connected by a bridging portion having a curvaturecorresponding to the curvature of said slide; a bracket including a pairof arms having corresponding first ends connected by a saddle portionand corresponding spaced-apart second ends having corresponding throughholes which are so spaced-apart and sized as to receive the legs of theU-bolt, and a pair of opposing sliders projecting from said arms nearthe second ends thereof, each slider being slidably received in saidslide when the bracket is engaged against the slide sections and thelegs of the U-bolt extend through said holes, and at least one nutthreadedly engaging a leg of the U-bolts so as to clamp the slidesections between the U-bolt and the saddle bracket.
 3. The attachmentdefined in claim 2 wherein said bracket is V-shaped.
 4. The attachmentdefined in claim 2 wherein the slide sections are semi-circular.
 5. Theattachment defined in claim 4 and further including keying means at thefirst and second ends of each slide section which interfit when thecorresponding ends of the slide sections are in butting engagement. 6.The attachment defined in claim 2 and further including interfittingmeans on the inner surface of each slide section for interfitting with atop bar.
 7. The attachment defined in claim 2 and further includingswing suspension means including an eye, said bracket being threadedthrough said eye so that the suspension means seat on said saddleportion.
 8. An attachment for attaching a swing device to an elevatedhorizontal, cylindrical, support having a longitudinal axis and aselected diameter, said attachment comprising a pair of semi-circularslide sections engaged around the support, said slide sections havingopposite ends in mating engagement to form an exterior circular slide,and posts projecting into the support to prevent movement of the slidesections relative to the support, and fastening means clamping saidslide sections together in mating engagement about said support saidfastening means being slidable along said slide at least 360° about saidaxis.
 9. The attachment defined in claim 8 wherein the fastening meanscomprise a U-bolt comprising a pair of substantially parallel legsconnected at corresponding first ends by a curved bridging portionslidably engaged in said slide, said legs also having correspondingspaced-apart second ends, a bracket including a pair of arms havingcorresponding first ends connected by a saddle and correspondingspaced-apart, second ends, said second ends containing through holesspaced-apart and sized to receive the legs of the U-bolt, and a pair ofopposing sliders projecting from said bracket arms between the endsthereof and slidably engaged in said slide, and securing means on thesecond ends of the U-bolt legs under the second ends of the bracket armsfor clamping the slide sections together around the support between theU-bolt and the bracket.
 10. The attachment defined in claim 7 andfurther including a swing suspension member having an end seated on saidsaddle.
 11. The attachment defined in claim 7 wherein the securing meanscomprise a hook on the second end of the U-bolt legs hooked under thesecond end of one bracket arm, and a nut threaded onto the second end ofthe other U-bolt leg under the second end of the other bracket arm.